Category Archives: Healthcare

Would you be able to help the uplift children of the Waterberg in South Africa?

December 1, 2025Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Community projects, Education, Ending period poverty, Healthcare, HIV awareness, HIV prevention, Home Based Care, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, Orphans, School vegetable gardens, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, BigGiveChoice, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Education, Limpopo Province, South Africa, The Big give ChristmasChallenge helping children of the Waterberg, The Big Give ChristmasChallenge2025, uplifting-school-children-and-teenage-mothers-in-the-waterbergsouth, WaterbergSophie Neville

Big Give will double any funds The Waterberg Trust can raise between 2nd and 8th December 2025. Donations can be made via their site online.

Our aim is to provide a school class (53 children) with an in-depth, 5 day residential environmental/conservation course at Lapalala Wilderness School. This will have far-reaching benefits for both the children learning about the value of their environment and long-term conservation protection in the Waterberg which is a Unesco World Biosphere Reserve where they live.

Local students on a course at Lapalala Wilderness School

The children of the Waterberg so need help in broadening their horizons. School Nurse, Sister Grace says, “Over the last few months, 100 school children had issues that needed private intervention, with a home visit and family involvement.” She has listed current challenges:

Learners living with step-parents can face psychological and emotional trauma.
Sexual abuse of girls. Families choose to keep silent if the offender is a family member.
Trauma after being raped or sexually abused.
Gender based violence leading to physical injuries.
Suicidal ideation due to bullying by ‘friends’ via social media platforms.
Lack of concentration in class and failing to cope after the loss of parents or loved ones.
Unsuitable home environment for studying due to noise or dysfunctional families.
Poverty affects many children especially on weekends and holidays.
Guardians misuse the social grant meant for child upkeep.
Learners drop out of school due to substance abuse, addiction or failure to cope in class.
Lack of family caregivers at home to look after the babies of teenage moms when they return to school.

Equiping pupils who have no parents with school shoes

Sister Grace explained that, after home visits and the family meetings, “I managed to refer 20 learners to different stakeholders i.e. Victim Support Unit, SASSA, along with Social Development and Department of Home Affairs for ID and birth certificate application.”

Sister Grace helping schoolgirls in South Africa

She travels from one school to another on different days of the week. “I focus on addressing complaints and issues which were raised from the beginning of the year from learners who prefer to treat personal challenges individually in the presence of their chosen trusted guardian, parent or sibling.”

Ending period poverty – Schoolgirls in the Waterberg receiving packs of washable eco-sanitary pads

This year, schools reopened on the 13^th October, which is the 4^th term and busy time of the year when students prepare for final exams and Matric learners attend extra classes both during the week and on weekends. Dedicated educators are working hard to ensure they support the Matric learners especailly if they have fallen behind.

Six babies were born to teenage mothers who have returned to school. Some use formula while others are express-cup feeding. Hygiene measures to prevent infection are properly explained.

The Waterberg Trust is helping babies born to schoolgirls in South Africa — School nurse Sister Grace ensuring babies born to teenage mothers get a good start in life

Good News:

The Department of Education continues to supply disposable sanitary pads for schoolgirls.

The Waterberg Trust helping school children in the Waterberg, South Africa

Dignity Dreams supply re-usable packs of eco-sanitary pads

BEAUTIFUL VEGETABLE GARDENS ENSURE LEARNERS HAVE EXTRA NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS ARE SPONSORED BY THE EIMS FOUNDATION WHO ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LUNCHBOX MEALS AT ALL THE SCHOOL’S FEEDING SCHEMES, WHICH IS A HUGE BENEFIT TO LEANERS

Businesses in the Waterberg have been making generous donations

A BIG THANK YOU GOES OUT TO SUSKES, in VAALWATER for DONATING 220 SCHOOL UNIFORMS for MAHLASEDI PRIMARY SCHOOL

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

Matric learners attended educational camps
Enrichment classes continue during the school holidays
Sporting activities and competitions for both primary and high schools
Matric farewell functions

You can find out more about the Big Give and how they double the difference:

Teenage pregnancy support in the Waterberg, South Africa

July 11, 2025Africa, Charity, Community projects, Healthcare, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, Charity, Limpopo Province, minstering to the hungry, Small but effective grass-roots project helping rural people in the Waterberg, South Africa, South African teenagers, Supporting teenage mothers, WaterbergSophie Neville

School nurse Sister Grace supporting teenage mothers

School nurse, Sister Grace writes to say that 53 individuals in 11 family units remain in need of food parcels and other essential items. These include school-aged mothers, child-headed homes, the unemployed who have no source of income, unemployed foreign nationals, or huge families struggling to meet daily demands.

After completing home visits and assessments, Sister Grace buys food that is distributed to the beneficiaries. “Those who are faced with an urgent situation are assisted accordingly.”

Thanks go to all those who donated to TWT’s Food Parcel Appeal back in 2020. Thanks to careful purchasing and management, we are still drawing on the funds raised. The scheme has worked exceptionally well. Many desperately needy people have benefited and thousands of meals have been provided.

If you would like to help, even in a small way, financial donations can be made via The Waterberg Trust’s Justgiving page or as specified on our Donate page here.

A food parcel financed by The Waterberg Trust

Prices for essential commodities fluctuate, but Grace shops around for the best deals. “I also buy baby clothes for teenage moms and donate clothes to needy children and adults.”

A school-age Mum receiving guidance and support

“All the pregnant girls I interact with are in between the ages of 15 – 18 years. They do have knowledge about where to access free contraceptives but are reluctant to go and seek for help due to unknown reason.”

A school-age Mum in South Africa receiving essential supplies — A school-age Mum receiving essential supplies

CHALLENGES: Most problems are complex and differ from one household to another

Alcoholics choose to spend money on beer rather than food
Child-headed homes lack parental guidance
Poverty
Gender Based Violence leads to sexual and physical abuse
Unemployed parents and youth
Increased number of teenage pregnancies

Some local community members remain employed on road construction on the R33, or on surrounding lodges and farms, while others run small scale businesses and earn extra income to support their families.

WISHLIST: Baby clothes, wool and sanitary products

News from our school nurse in the Waterberg, South Africa

June 11, 2025Africa, Charity, Education, Healthcare, HIV awareness, HIV prevention, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, Orphans, School vegetable gardens, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, Charity, Education, learning, Limpopo Province, news, South Africa, WaterbergSophie Neville

Every morning, School nurse Sister Grace checks into Meetsetshehla High School where her office is located, before attending other schools on weekly, scheduled visits. Teachers help identify needy learners and refer them to her on a one-to-one basis. She also spends time with groups of girls, educating them on puberty, menstruation, hygiene and access to contraceptives.

Examinations are looming. Grade 12’s attend classes from Monday to Sunday to ensure they are well prepared and can catch where they are behind.

Sporting activities, with learners competing with other schools in soccer and netball are popular. Winning teams have advanced to the next round of competitions.

School vegetable gardens are suppling extra food for the existing feeding scheme.

Recycling projects are generating funds for schools. The initiative empowers learners and reduces littering while keeping school premises clean. Each school now has four different waste bins for plastic, tin, glass and paper.

Coding and robotics classes are being introduced in primary schools to prepare children for the future. Tablets have been delivered for them to use:

PROGRESS:

Teachers have attended workshops on supporting learners and producing good results.
Extra classes have been provided for the Matric students of 2025.
Learners eat breakfast before classes commence and lunch during break.
The EMS Foundation is supporting schools on farms with lunchbox meals. These include instant porridge and lunch, adding to the existing feeding schemes.
The lunchbox is one of the best initiatives to help children from disadvantaged families.
Absenteeism in schools has declined since learners eat at school.

CHALLENGES:

Lack of parental involvement in school meetings or children’s activities
Gender Based Violence, sexual abuse and harassment
Poverty leading to dropping out of school
Increased teenage pregnancies
Bullying and physical fights among learners
Poor family background i.e. unemployed, low or no source of income & alcoholic parents or guardians

PREGNANT LEARNERS	NUMBER OF LEANERS PER SCHOOL
Meetsetshehla Secondary School – 4	596
Leseding High School – 8	1363
Motakamhotala High School – 1	368

BELOW ARE THE LEARNER ENROLLMENT PER SCHOOL

PRIMARY SCHOOLS	TOTAL LEARNERS	NUMBER OF TEACHERS
Mokolo Primary	1224	34 Teachers
Mahlasedi Primary	1423	38 Teachers

TOTAL NUMBER OF LEARNERS SEEN INDIVIDUALLY = 555

Medical condition=65 (Epilepsy 8, asthma 25, dental abscess 6, allergic conjunctivitis 26)

Social Problems = 45 (orphaned 25, alcoholic parents 10, physical abuse 8, suicide attempt 2)

Menstrual issues = 105 (Pads distributed to girls)

Referral for contraceptives =150 (girls aged 13-19 years-old accessed injectable contraceptives)

Minor ailments = 85 (soccer injury, physical cuts after picking a fight, insect bites, colds)

Counseling = 115 (HIV/AIDS preventative measures, how to deal with addiction and coping methods, how to overcome depression.)

Sister Grace adds, “Other learners discussed in class matters about learning, combating fatigue, importance of exercise, career guidance and the disadvantage of bullying in schools.”

Schools will have a winter break towards end of June but Matric learners have no holiday as they need to intensify their studies and prepare for the year end final exams!

Every donation made towards Sister Grace’s salary is recognized by the local community and the schools she helps. The Waterberg Trust is looking for people who would like to make a monthly donation, as small regular payments help hugely with budgeting. Please see the HOW TO DONATE page for more information.

Chairman’s Annual Report

October 8, 2024Africa, Charity, Community projects, Education, Ending period poverty, Healthcare, HIV awareness, Limpopo Province, Nature Conservation, Nonprofit, School vegetable gardens, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, Charity, Education, learning, Limpopo Province, news, Small but effective grass-roots project helping rural people in the Waterberg, South Africa, Sponsored ride, teaching, Waterberg, womenSophie Neville

For the last ten years, The Waterberg Welfare Society Trust has been operating under its new and broader remit as The Waterberg Trust (TWT) supporting welfare initiatives across the Waterberg, uplifting the people.

Quarterly reports from Sister Grace and Dr Peter Farrant detail the social welfare of the less privileged of The Waterberg. They give a measure of what TWT is seeking to address and are increasingly alarming. Major concerns include increasing substance abuse, vagrancy, absenteeism from school and general poor behaviour.

School nurse Sister Grace sponsored by The Waterberg Trust

The academic performance of the local schools is deteriorating because they are underfunded and teacher vacancies are often either poorly filled or remain unfilled. However, there are encouraging factors with some teachers providing extra classes to help children catch up and prepare for their exams, along with some supporting after-school activities with sport being increasingly encouraged.

School sports for girls of the Waterberg in South Africa

TWT initiatives include conserving the environment and helping the poorest and all the young people of the Waterberg to achieve their potential by encouraging them to stay in education. This involves basic and simple initiatives.

School nurse Sister Grace equipping the new intake of schoolgirls with washable pads.

By providing re-useable washable sanitary wear from the nonprofit Dignity Dreams, TWT has again met its priority this year by enabling all the adolescent girls of the Waterberg to attend school for all of every month for the five years of their secondary education. As a result, fewer girls drop out of education because they no longer fall behind through missing school.

Sister Grace distributing packs of Dignity Dreams eco-sanitary pads in secondary schools of the Waterberg

TWT raises funds to pay the school nurse’s salary. Sister Grace provides primary care for the medical, mental and general welfare needs of the school children of the Waterberg. She manages the distribution of the Dignity Dreams packs and instructing the girls in how to use them, when she explains accompanying leaflet on puberty and sex education.

A letter thinking The Waterberg Trust — A letter from a schoolgirl thanking donors for her washable eco-sanitary pads

Through dedicated Life Skills teaching sessions, Sister Grace instructs the pupils in human reproduction and sex education with the use and availability of contraception methods.

A drama about the risks of teenage pregnancy performed by Waterberg pupils

As a direct consequence, the numbers of teenage pregnancies have reduced consistently each year. Sister Grace supports any teenage mums with baby care instruction, guidance and provides essentials when they are not available.

Monitoring a baby born to a teenage schoolgirl

In South Africa, you cannot attend school if you do not have a uniform, which is something that the poorest families in the community struggle to afford. TWT helps to provide school uniforms and shoes so that every child in the Waterberg can go to school.

Providing school shoes in the Waterberg — Providing hard-wearing school shoes in the Waterberg

Sister Grace champions important initiatives such as four school vegetable gardens that the children cultivate. She helps the children to remain motivated and to choose subjects that will support their career choices.

Ideas for careers open to pupils of the Waterberg

She also supports the health of the weakest in the community, distributing monthly food parcels to about seven needy households with volunteers from the “Acts of Mercy” initiative of the local St John’s Church.

TWT provides scholarships for exceptional pupils to further education and not be held back by the poverty of their family circumstances. For example, Elton Chitandra is a deserving and able student from the Waterberg who is an orphan living with his aunt. TWT awarded Elton a scholarship for his university tuition fees for three years. He is now in the third year of his Computer Software degree at university.

Elton with his recent certificates — Elton with some of his school certificates

Importantly, TWT also contributes to wildlife conservation in the Waterberg by funding vehicle recognition cameras at strategic road junctions. As a consequence, the Waterberg has lost very few rhinos to poachers in the last few years, which sadly contrasts to other areas of South Arica.

This year, TWT has made another large donation to the Save the Waterberg Rhino initiative that has changed its name to the Waterberg Landscape Alliance (WLA). The name change was made to reflect a broader conservation remit.

TWT sends school children on residential course at the Lapalala Wilderness School to learn about their precious environment and the diversity of species. Educating the young in the importance of conserving the habitat results in parents becoming more aware.

Fundraising: TWT pioneered a new circular cycle route from Cambridge across the counties of Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire for its annual sponsored cycle ride that was much enjoyed by an ever increasing field of riders. Circa £13,794 was raised, beating the £10,000 target.

The Waterberg Trust charity cycle ride 2024

TWT has a number of ways you can make a donation and a Justgiving page

While there is still work to be done in enhancing the conspicuity of the Trust in the Waterberg, it has been the lead supporter of some important projects to do with health, welfare, education and the environment.

TTP have continued to provide massive support both administratively and in consultation, which is much appreciated.

Barry Burles

Chairman

June 2024

The Waterberg Trust active in South Africa — Growing vegetables for the school feeding scheme.

Help for the needy in the Waterberg, South Africa

August 13, 2024Africa, Charity, Community projects, Ending period poverty, Healthcare, Home Based Care, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, Orphans, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, WaterbergSophie Neville

ACTS OF MERCY REPORT FOR JUNE & JULY

School nurse, Sister Grace has continued to reach out to those needing social support by providing food parcels, clothes and nutritional supplements.

“Among the beneficiaries,” she tells us, “are members of St Johns Baptist Church who have a low source of income and are unemployed. I have been reaching out to chronically ill patients and render psychosocial and emotional support through counseling and by managing their mental health.”

Items for food parcels are bought from different supermarkets to get the best deals. There are currently 24 people living in 7 family groups who receive this aid. Some have just returned from hospital chronically ill or mentally ill, others are unemployed.

“I provided nutritional supplements to three beneficiaries who are now deceased. One elderly man continues to receive monthly prescribed injections for his condition.”

Sister Grace writes: A MOTHER AND HER DAUGHTER HAPPILY RECEIVED A DONATION OF A BED AND MATTRESS. THIS RELIEVED THEM FROM SLEEPING ON THE COLD FLOOR WITH A LITTLE BABY.

THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS, LIVE IN UNHEALTHY SHACK AND SLEEEP ON THE FLOOR. THE DAUGHTER HAS A LITTLE BABY AND ALL OF THEM HAVE INFECTED SKIN DISEASE.

BED AND MATTRESS PROVIDED
PACKED THEIR CLOTHES IN A PROPER LUGGAGE BAG
ASSISTED TEENAGE MUM TO TAKE HER BABY FOR IMMUNISATION AT THE CLINIC
FOOD PARCEL AND BABY CLOTHES PROVIDED
WILL CONTINUE WITH REGULAR MONITORING OF THE BABY’S WELLBEING

PROGRESS:

Job opportunities for locals in various sectors helps them earn extra income and support their families.
Other charity organizations continue to assist the identified families with food parcels.
Donated clothes and sanitary pads are benefiting teenage girls and those in need.
Social Relief Grants continue to benefit the citizens eligible to apply.

Children receiving donated clothes carefully sorted by School nurse Sister Grace and her voluteers. — Children receiving donated clothes carefully sorted by School nurse Sister Grace and her volunteers.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

Fellow church elders donated clothes, stationery and a bed
Ongoing donation of sanitary pads from guests who visit Horizon Horseback Adventures
Thanks go to The Waterberg Academy for the donation of shoes that were distributed to the local schools for the needy children:

School Nurse Sister Grace administering community health and welfare in the Waterberg, South Africa

June 4, 2024Africa, Charity, Community projects, Ending period poverty, Healthcare, HIV awareness, HIV prevention, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Waterberg, YouthSmall but effective grass-roots project helping rural people in the WaterbergSophie Neville

School Nurse Sister Grace taking donations to members of the Waterberg community

The Waterberg Trust funds the salary of school nurse, Sister Grace who is based at one of the secondary schools but gets out into the community to address challenges and distribute items donated by local churches.

School Nurse Sister Grace distributing sanitary pads so that girls do not miss school — School Nurse Sister Grace distributing sanitary pads in Vaalwater so that girls do not miss school

She tells us, ‘I provide basic health care in form of home visits, checking up on psychosocial wellbeing of orphaned children.’

Sister Grace helped six students pay for their Matric uniforms and passed on donations to the No Drugs and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center which admitted four youths from Vaalwater willing to quit substance abuse. She continues to help at the Addiction Recovery Course at the Farmers’ Hall in the heart of the Waterberg, providing tea and light snacks.

School Nurse Sister Grace on a home visit

Sister Grace reports:

Dysfunctional families tend to neglect their own children.
Overcrowded family dwellings mean children are exposed to communicable diseases such as scabies infections. ‘One household has four people infected with TB. Two are children below the age of two, who are on treatment.’ Sister Grace carries out adherence counseling and provides the family with a food parcel financed by The Waterberg Trust.
The Social Relief Grant can be misused for alcohol leaving children without food.

However, there is progress:

School children eat meals from school feeding schemes on daily basis
There are job creation schemes for youth on local farms and lodges or keeping the town clean and maintaining roads.
Different Political parties handed out food and winter wear during the election campaign.
26 needy people currently benefit from food parcels funded by The Waterberg Trust. Some are school drop-outs or single mums with children to support.

School Nurse Sister Grace distributing hand knitted blankets to the elderly of the Waterberg

Sister Grace continues to help those lacking food, clothes, school uniform, bedding and by supporting chronically ill patients.

Many thanks to our donors who make this work possible.

If you would like to make a contribution to The Waterberg Trust their Justgiving page can accept money in eight different currencies. This and other ways of donating can be found on the Donate page of this website here.

The Waterberg Trust pay for food parcels donated to needy members of the Waterberg community by School Nurse Sister Grace

2024 – Talks on Addiction, Food Parcel Distribution and Home Based Care in the Waterberg, South Africa

February 6, 2024Africa, Charity, Community projects, Education, Ending period poverty, Healthcare, HIV, HIV awareness, HIV prevention, Home Based Care, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, Youthaddiction, Africa, Charity, food parcels for the needy in the Waterberg, health, lectures on addiction to school children in South Africa, Limpopo Province, mental-health, news, Providing school shoes for African pupils, recovery, Small but effective grass-roots project helping rural people in the Waterberg, South Africa, WaterbergSophie Neville

The addiction counsellor Chris West-Russell speaking about the sleeping tiger of drug and alcohol abuse

The Waterberg Trust partners with St John’s Church and the Tshepo Trust to help the needy in the Waterberg, providing homebased care, food parcels and talks on addiction.

ST JOHN’S ACTS OF MERCY REPORT FOR JANUARY 2024

Sister Grace continues to distribute food parcels and clothes. ”As we began the new year I managed to buy school items for needy children. The food parcels are bought from different supermarkets to get lower prices.”

The 24 beneficaries include an elderly widow from Mozambique with no source of income, a chronically ill single Mum, a victim of sexual abuse, a teenage mum without support and other child-headed families.

If you could help by making a donation, however small, please click here for The Waterberg Trust’s Justgiving site or visit our How to Donate page.

Some of the food parcels purchased this month

PROGRESS:

Acts of Mercy has made a huge impact on many families in Vaalwater community by providing food parcels, clothes and sanitary pads for girls.
Local organizations such as the Tshepo Trust and Noko Transformation Forum are being well supported.
Some beneficiaries find jobs, others continue to receive Government Social Relief grants.
Grants for child support and the elderly were increased.
Opportunities for the youth to gain skills in gardening, poultry rearing and security work while receiving a monthly stipend are available.

School items purchased and distributed this month

CHALLENGES:

Increase in food prices
Improper spending of social grants on alcohol and gambling
Overcrowding due to migration leading to poor living conditions and sanitation
Unemployed youth get involved in substance and alcohol abuse, community theft and gender-based violence. Community members feel unsafe walking in certain areas for fear of being attacked or robbed.
Increase in the number of teenage pregnancy despite information about reproduction & health, preventative measures and access to contraceptives.

Sister Grace compiled a power point presentation to summarize work achieved with Acts of Mercy from MAY 2020 – Dec 2023. The presentation also published on this website, specifies the number of food parcels distributed, including clothes and reusable sanitary pads. “Many families benefited from the donations.”

TSHEPO HBC REPORT JANUARY 2024

Tshepo Homebased Care continues daily routine work in the community.

“We checkup on patients, provide adherence support, collect patient medication from the clinic and identify new patients for admission. All the patients on our program have chronic conditions and are assisted according to their needs i.e. wound dressing, passive exercises, bathing and weekly pill box packing. Some patients are stable and take medication while others need proper adherence counseling and regular home visits to ensure they are well informed about the importance of adherence.”

The number of patients on the program stands at 22. “There has been a great improvement in mobility after our caregivers intervened.”

PROGRESS:

Tshepo Homebased Care is recognized in the community and by the local Government clinic who refer patients and help with basic dressing materials, specimen bottles for sputum collection and TB screening tools.
Chronic medication is collected on behalf of elderly patients who can not walk to the clinic.
A speaker from the Western Cape addressed the increased number of young addicts in our community and provided caregivers with training on addiction and recovery, along with stakeholders from Noko Transformation & Anti-corruption Forum and local schools.
Tshepo Trust assisted the Noko Forum with a letter to enable them to fundraise for their organization and ask local business owners for financial donations or food stuffs.

The addiction counsellor Chris West-Russell speaking about the dangers of drug abuse

CHALLENGES:

Very sick patients, including those who need surgery or specialist intervention, wait a long time before they can be transferred to the provincial hospital. Appointments are extended to further dates, making it difficult for families to cope with caring for their loved ones.
Increase in youth-related deaths due to substance abuse, drugs and alcohol, defaulting on chronic medication
Poor family support and abandonment of sick or elderly patients left alone at home.
Tshepo Trust is short of homebased care kits, stationery, and cleaning products.

FUTURE PLANS:

To continue providing required homebased care services
To bring in those who need day care services and close monitoring
To intensify patient screening for TB and reach out in other areas
To continue liaising with stakeholders to ensure we provide the necessary services for patients and their families

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Many thanks to St John the Baptist Church at 24 Rivers who support Tshepo Trust through their Acts of Mercy initiative, providing food for patients, clothes and assistance in the office.

2023 Annual Report from Sister Grace on her work for The Waterberg Trust in South Africa

December 12, 2023Africa, Charity, Community projects, Education, Ending period poverty, Healthcare, HIV awareness, HIV prevention, Home Based Care, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, Orphans, Peer Education, School vegetable gardens, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, donate for Christmas, Limpopo Province, Small but effective grass-roots project helping rural people in the Waterberg, South Africa, WaterbergSophie Neville

School nurse Sister Grace working with Waterberg school in South Africa

In the last three years 1500 FOOD PARCELS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED, ALONG WITH ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES, TO 1000 INDIVIDUALS IN NEED .

You can make a donation on Justgiving to keep this amazing project going.

or visit our How to DONATE page

Food purchased by TWT and distributed to the needy in January 2023

ROUTINE TASKS AND INTERVENTIONS – REACHING OUT TO THE NEEDY THROUGH:

HOME VISITS TO IDENTIFY THOSE IN NEED

PRE NATAL AND POST NATAL VISITS

FOOD PARCEL DISTRIBUTION

DONATING CLOTHES, BEDDING AND SANITARY PADS

TREATMENT SUPPORT AND HEALTH EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES AND THE ELDERLY

TEMPORARY SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS

WE MANAGED TO HELP A SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL MAN TO GET MEDICAL HELP AND TREATMENT. AT FIRST, HE WAS UNAPPROACHABLE AND SPENT MOST OF HIS TIME BESIDE THE ROAD WITHOUT EATING. HE’S NOW STABLE, ON TREATMENT AND BACK AT WORK

Donations of clothes support those in need in the Waterberg, South Africa

SUPPORTING LEARNERS – IN ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR SCHOOL LIFE – BY ADDRESSING:

SOCIAL PROBLEMS

Matric students being motivated to study hard for their exams

LEARNING PROBLEMS

The Vaalwater based facilitator for Masifunde Learner Development

TEENAGE PREGNANCY

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

COUNSELING

NUTRITION – WITH A SHOOL MEALS SCHEME

Produce grown in a school vegetable garden

SCHOOL VEGETABLE GARDENS & RECYCLING PROJECT

CHALLENGES

POVERTY

ORPHANED CHILDREN

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES

INCREASED TEENAGE PREGNANCIES

SUBSTANCE & ALCOHOL ABUSE AMONGST THE YOUTH

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE RESULTING IN PHYSICAL INJURY

Clothes being donated to grandmothers in the Waterberg

PROGRESS:

HELP FOR THE VULNERABLE

HEALTH EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY

INCREASED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTIVES FOR TEENAGE GIRLS

SCHOOL GIRLS HAVE ACCESS TO FREE ECO-SANITARY PADS

SPONSORSHIP FOR ORPHANS AND OUTSTANDING SCHOLARS

INVOLVING AN INCREASED NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY

Sister Grace with 2023 Matric students in new uniforms

Thank you for helping those in need in the Waterberg, South Africa

August 1, 2023Africa, Charity, Community projects, Ending period poverty, Healthcare, Home Based Care, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, Orphans, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, Charity, Leseding Vaalwater, Limpopo Province, Small but effective grass-roots project helping rural people in the Waterberg, South Africa, WaterbergSophie Neville

Elton Chitanda, Grace Ismail and Elvis Chitanda — Sister Grace in the Waterberg

Sister Grace continues to identify those in need in the Waterberg, and writes to say:

“Thank you for the ongoing support towards the Acts of Mercy project, which has made a huge impact to less privileged families in Vaalwater community.”

The needy are able to receive food parcels financed by The Waterberg Trust.
Vulnerable families receive items donated by St Johns Church and others.
Children continue to enjoy meals provided by school feeding schemes.
Schoolgirls no longer miss lessons as they receive free sanitary pads.
The youth participate in sporting activities, which keep them off the streets
Youth get free computer lessons and gain skills in poultry farming, agriculture.
Locals have gained short-term and permanent jobs on surrounding farms, at lodges and with the local municipality.

A food parcel costing very little which will keep a family going through hard times. — A TWT food parcel will keep a family going through hard times.

There are challenges:

Prices have increased dramatically.
Irresponsible people spend money on alcohol and gambling instead of food.
Orphaned children’s grant money can be abused by caregivers. Such issues are handled by social workers.
Community theft has increased in our township. Those involved are youth under substance abuse, school dropouts and the unemployed.
Damaged roads with potholes.

Sister Grace assisted a homeless young man who was sleeping on a dump without a blanket or proper clothing. “I noticed he had mental illness. He had arrived in Vaalwater from KZN by foot.”

“I went with him to the supermarket to buy food.” He was offered a vacant room, bathed and provided with clean clothes. Well-wishers donated a foam mattress for him to sleep on. “I bought him a blanket and took him to the local government clinic to seek medical help but he was not assisted due to not having a mental illness history and not having a passport.” After spending a month in Vaalwater, a cousin managed to buy him a bus ticket and he was successfully put on bus heading for Mozambique where he was welcomed home.

Safely arrived in Mozambique — Arriving safely in Mozambique

Winter nights have been very cold in the Waterberg this year and children often lack warm clothing.

Donated clothes have been distributed to those in need

Toys were donated to a creche and drawing pencils to a Grade 11 student passionate about art

Art materials were donated to this aspiring artist.

THE KNITTING CLUB has been active

“We knitted blankets and beanies which were donated to the needy during winter season.”

Thank you for the ongoing support, which has made a huge impact in the Vaalwater community. The sanitary pads benefit many girls who are now able to attend classes.

Your donations are highly appreciated. TWT has Justgiving page here

and can accept donations in all the conventional ways – please see our page here

A report from the School Nurse in the Waterberg, Limpopo Province, South Africa

June 22, 2023Africa, Community projects, Education, Ending period poverty, Healthcare, HIV awareness, HIV prevention, Limpopo Province, School vegetable gardens, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, Limpopo Province, South Africa, WaterbergSophie Neville

The Waterberg Trust provides the salary for Sister Grace, a school nurse working in the schools of the Waterberg with the aim of giving young people the best possible start in life, safe-guarding their health and welfare.

If you would like to support Sister Grace’s important work in schools, provide an award or sponsor a promising pupil, please let us know in the Comments below or contact TWT direct. You can find the address along with ways of how to donate in this website here.

Sister Grace says, “My office is still based at Meetshehla Secondary School and I visit other schools once per week as planned on my roster. These are Leseding High School, Mokolo & Mahlasedi Primary Schools.”

Schools reopened on the 12^th April and lessons continued until 22nd June 2023 with no major problems. As you can see from the photo above, the Department of Health conducted a TB awareness campaign in primary and high schools, educating learners on how TB is transmitted, the preventive measures and treatment regimens.

An out break of mumps, chickenpox and measles was noticed at the two primary schools, however, the local Government Clinic rolled out a vaccination campaign in all the surrounding schools and vaccinated children from the age of 5–15 years with a measles vaccine after getting consent from parents.

Sister Grace working in schools of the Waterberg

LEARNERS FROM MEETSETSHEHLA HIGH SCHOOL WHO RECEIVED A MEASLES VACCINE

PROGRESS:

All Learners from High Schools are kept at school for longer hours including Sundays to ensure they are well prepared for exams and kept busy. This initiative was implemented in order to improve exam pass rates in surrounding schools as most learners don’t study nor submit their work as expected.
Mid-term exams went well in all schools and matriculants were motivated and prepared on various ways of performing well in final exams.
Meetsetshehla School learners were provided with buses to transport them to and from school during this winter season to help those living far away to get to school on time.
Maintenance of classrooms are taking place at Metsetshehla School, repairing of broken doors & windows, replacing electrical bulbs, fans and flooring.
Learners were occupied with various sporting activities to keep them physically fit and able to socialize. They competed with local schools and those who did well moved to the district level competitions in soccer, netball, chess and volleyball.

CHALLENGES:

Meetsetshehla High School had no water for 3 weeks due to not paying for water.
Inadequate toilets to accommodate 568 learners who spent the whole day at school i.e. only 6 portable toilets which aren’t in good condition and can pose a health risk.
Pregnant teenage mums are easily tired and lose concentration in class.
Some learners are depressed due to social issues, relationship breakups and dysfunctional family histories. Some take antidepressants and attend counseling.
Undisciplined learners are a bad influence and abscond from classes during breaks.

Sister Grace monitors the well-being of newborn babies.

Sister Grace monitoring the wellbeing of a newborn baby

BABIES BORN TO GRADE 10 AND 12 TEENAGE MOMS IN MAY 2023

I PROVIDED DONATED BABY CLOTHES, KNITTED BLANKETS AND SANITARY PADS

FUTURE PLANS:

To support girls with free sanitary pads distribution so they don’t miss classes due to menstrual issues.
To ensure each school has a vegetable garden to supplement the feeding scheme.
To revive school debating, drama, spelling and reading clubs to help learners handle complex grammar and improve their English .
To engage learners in various sporting activities to keep them off the streets and enable them to compete with other schools in the community. A sports person has been appointed by the Department of Education to engage with learners in various activities.

STATISTICS: TOTAL NUMBER OF LEARNERS SEEN INDIVIDUALLY 175

PREGNANT – 10 (5 Meetstshehla & 5 Leseding .Four of them delivered babies and are doing well.
MEDICAL ISSUES 20 (asthma, depression, epilepsy, mumps & chicken pox, ear & dental infection, migraine)
SOCIAL PROBLEMS – 35 (Poor family support, poverty, poor living condition, gender-based violence, bullying etc.)
MINOR AILMENTS – 45 (Menstruation, sports injury, headaches, common colds, menstrual pain)
REFERRAL FOR CONTRACEPTIVES – 40 (girls between ages of 13 – 17 were referred to the Local Clinic for contraceptives )
ADHERENCE COUNSELING – 25 (To learners on chronic medication for HIV, Epilepsy, antidepressants and antipsychotics)

Other learners were seen in their classes for various learning support and health talks.

Schools will be closed from 23rd June – 18th July for the winter break but Grade 9 – 12 pupils will attend extra classes during holidays.

If you would like to support Sister Grace’s work in schools, provide an award or sponsor a promising pupil, please let us know in the Comments below or contact TWT direct. You can find the address along with ways of how to donate in this website here.